Postpartum aerobic exercise

PUB. DATE

January 1997

SOURCE

Mothering;Jan-Mar97, Issue 82, p61

SOURCE TYPE

Periodical

DOC. TYPE

Article

ABSTRACT

Cites a study published in volume six of `ALCA News,' about the health benefits of postpartum aerobic exercise. Improvement of the mothers' cardiovascular fitness; Absence of adverse effect on lactation.

Practicing a specific physical activity during pregnancy helps prevent difficulties during labor, birth and postpartum recovery period. For all the changes and demands being placed on the body during pregnancy, simple structures common water gymnastics relieve suffering and prepare for the...

Explains how to do bench aerobics, also called step aerobics or step training. Benefits of aerobic exercise; Low-impact aerobics; How aerobics instructor and bodybuilder Gin Miller developed bench aerobics; Why step aerobics are good exercise; Stretching exercises; Where to get more information.

Discusses the importance of aerobic fitness and exercise. Alarming statistics on the fitness of American young people, compiled by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; List of aerobic sports and other activities.

Presents a few suggestions to help one start an aerobic exercise program on the right foot. Proper footwear; Warm-up exercises; Post-aerobic cool-down rhythmic limbering exercises; Estimated target heart rates for different age categories.

Presents a summary of a study which appeared in the journal, `Australian Journal of Psychology,' by S.H. Boutcher, E. McAuley and K.S. Courney entitled, `Positive and Negative Affective Response of Trained and Untrained Subjects During and After Aerobic Exercise,' which assessed trained and...